From the Manager
Roy McFarland - Watford, Tuesday 11th August 1998
It was pleasing to start with a win at Torquay on Saturday, even if we didn't play as well as we know we can do. It was, nonetheless, a great performance in that heat - which is typical for the first day of the season. We kept our shape well and and the goalkeeper and back four were very solid. That was Arjan Van Heusden's debut and I was pleased with his contributions. Alex Russell did okay, as did Neil Mustoe - who will have been pleased to get his first league game under his belt.
The result should give the players a little bit of confidence in that even though we did not play as well as we can, we managed to go away from home and get three points. Watford had a good win on Saturday to come from behind to win at Portsmouth and I don't think that tonight's side will resemble that from 10 days ago. It's our first game at home and we would like to impress in front of our supporters. We would like to go to Watford with a one or two goal advantage, so I can assure you we will not be sitting back. We will take the game to them, although I know it won't be easy. However I feel that we have improved as a team and I am pleased to be playing a team above ourselves because it will give us an idea of how we are placed for this season. We know that we won't win the Worthington Cup, but we would like to get as far as we can because the further we get the more money we will receive. We had a really good battle with another first division side in West Bromwich Albion last season and I thought we were really unlucky to go out, but as we often find, getting past the first round can be harder than progressing through the competition. Off the pitch, we have had a busy week in completing deals with both Arjan Van Heusden and Alex Russell, who have both arrived on free transfers from Port Vale and Rochdale respectively. Arjan - or Ice as he is known: a nickname he had at Port Vale due to his coolness - has been recruited because we made the decision to try and improve on that area of our team. We know that we can score goals, but I believe that we need to keep more clean sheets or concede fewer goals if we are to be successful. Of course, Ice's arrival has meant that we have put Scott Barrett on the transfer list. I've always had a good relationship with Scott and, because of his age, I have made him available because he will want first team football. Alex has had a good pre-season with us and has mixed in well with all the players. I have seen his qualities before and it was good to have had him with us for three or four weeks before signing him. His arrival will give us some good competition for places this season. So, it's great to be back at The Abbey as we once again welcome everyone connected with Watford Football Club. ROY McFARLAND |